piston engine
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of piston engine
First recorded in 1905–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wankel’s engine is legendary among engineers and gearheads, on account of its simplicity and elegance: It has far fewer parts than a typical piston engine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Alexander Shkolnik is founder of LiquidPiston, a company attempting a nearly impossible feat: developing a liquid-fuel-powered alternative to the traditional piston engine.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
“Almost like we didn’t go from all piston engine and diesel cars to all electric cars,” he said.
From Reuters • Nov. 20, 2020
The company is working on an advanced hybrid design capable of vertical takeoff and highway driving using electric motors powered by batteries, along with a piston engine turning a pusher propeller during forward flight.
From New York Times • Aug. 22, 2014
On the other hand, when you want power from a piston engine, the engine responds as soon as your hand moves the throttle.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
